General Rear Springs Corroding
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General Rear Springs Corroding
Very common. I replaced my exhaust after 3.5 years with a stainless steel system. The factory one is rubbish. It was rusty inside 6 months. Springs I can't comment on, mine were replaced on the 3rd day with lowering ones that are coated. They still seem fine.
They corrode on all cars, probably just the examiner being a picky so and so.
FireballXL5man
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I've just had my exhaust systm replaced on my other car, a 1997 Ford Mondeo estate owned since new. It was the original exhaust system and had been on the car for fourteen and a half years.
Looks like I can't expect the 500's exhaust system to last that long!
Looks like I can't expect the 500's exhaust system to last that long!
As gets pointed out all the time, the 500's rear box is multi layered so it'll take a while to actually start blowing.
Spot on there I'm afraid. The quality of the factory-fit exhausts on my 500 & Panda are by far the worst I've seen on any new car produced in the past 20 years. They're absolute rubbish.
My original Ford Ka exhaust was still going strong when I sold it after 10yrs/100k miles.
Yup. About 3.5 years. The backbox was blowing on mine.
FireballXL5man
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I'd forgotten that I'm actually on the second exhaust on my 500. I had the first one changed after about a month from new because there was a rattle from inside the silencer box under acceleration. the replacement is fine so far.
geeded
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I find this surprising. The exhaust on the NA 500 is all stainless stock from the factory. 
As a matter of fact, I can't think of any stock exhaust that isn't stainless (in the US).
Could be because our emissions system must be guaranteed for a very long time (100k?), not sure. Anyhow, no factory wants to have to replace an exhaust system under warranty so they all just went to stainless.
A not insignificant upgrade to have standard stainless muffler and pipes.
As a matter of fact, I can't think of any stock exhaust that isn't stainless (in the US). Could be because our emissions system must be guaranteed for a very long time (100k?), not sure. Anyhow, no factory wants to have to replace an exhaust system under warranty so they all just went to stainless.
A not insignificant upgrade to have standard stainless muffler and pipes.
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I find this surprising. The exhaust on the NA 500 is all stainless stock from the factory.
Could be because our emissions system must be guaranteed for a very long time (100k?), not sure. Anyhow, no factory wants to have to replace an exhaust system under warranty so they all just went to stainless.
A not insignificant upgrade to have standard stainless muffler and pipes.
It might also be your warranty which is 4 years & 50K miles. Get the impression the Euro back boxes are lasting around 3.5 years before they start to 'blow a bit'.
Was I correct about the NGK plugs being iridium ? - read that it was for emissions - longer life so not relying on a change at 18K miles.
geeded
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Don't think so. They're stainless even if a standard 3 yr, 36k Chevy. I put Iridium plugs in my ;91 300zx turbo and they were supposedly good for 90k miles if I remember correctly...should be, they were mucho expensive!
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Don't think so. They're stainless even if a standard 3 yr, 36k Chevy. I put Iridium plugs in my ;91 300zx turbo and they were supposedly good for 90k miles if I remember correctly...should be, they were mucho expensive!
Fiat500USA might have to update the year on the FAQ
http://pub43.bravenet.com/faq/show.php?usernum=3629891555&catid=9937#q11
What spark plugs are used in the Fiat 500?
The spark plug used in Europe for the 1.4 liter 16V version of the Fiat 500, NGK’s DCPR7E-N-10 are fitted as Original Equipment. This 12mm spark plug has been developed specifically for the Fiat FIRE MPI engine family. It is a nickel alloy plug.
This small diameter spark plug lends itself well to the compact combustion chamber of the multi-valve 1.4 liter engine.
When the Fiat 500 comes here to America in late 2010, the plug specified might change. The NGK DCPR7E-N-10 might be exchanged for a long life iridium/platinum plug due to US EPA regulations requiring cars to maintain a certain level of tune over the course of many tens of thousands of miles.
Re the 'life' of the Iridium plugs there's a bit of a contradiction on this but I would take it that the 60K would be the maximum for the NGK Iridium. Note the Denso is 30K and not 40K as I posted on another thread...
http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/technical/spark_plugs_faq.htm#best_Iridium
Standard copper plugs usually have an estimated service life of 10,000 to 20,000 miles depending upon design and application, Denso recommend changing their Iridium Power plugs before the maximum 30,000 miles, NGK's Iridium IX may last up to 60,000 miles in a standard use car engine. Double platinum types may last 60,000 miles or more and some NGK and Denso OEM Iridium types may last up to 120,000 miles. The plugs optimum performance level is passed a long time before these intervals so we would recommend changing plugs regularly as a matter of course.
